This Week in Odessa History

There was a move to establish a community center in Odessa in February, 99 years ago, with a bond issue put on the ballot for voters to decide if the school board should spend $3,000 to remodel an abandoned church building into such a facility.

In the March 7 election that year, voters flatly turned down the proposal, and it wasn’t until 1920 that Odessa was to have its Community Hall and not until 1974 that the Community Center was built.

The Record had this report on the first proposal for a civic center in its issue of February 20, 1914:

A campaign for a community center for Odessa was formally launched this week, when the student body of Odessa High School presented to voters in the school district a pamphlet showing the need for such a facility here, its cost and the benefits to be derived.

The location of the center decided on is the former Presbyterian Church. If voters favor the bond issue, the district would purchase and remodel the building as a community center.

The student’s pamphlet points to the fact that there is no auditorium in Odessa suitable for our needs, much less for comforts. It states that people refuse to attend athletic contests and refuse to purchase tickets to worthy entertainments because of Odessa’s poor, inadequate and disagreeable facilities.

Lincoln County Superintendent of Schools William Neeley has endorsed the plan for a civic center auditorium in Odessa. Other towns in the county which already have community centers are Davenport, Harrington, Reardan, Almira and Mohler.

A student committee in charge of boosting the proposal for the center is headed by Glenn Becker as Chairman. Other committee members are Emma Isaak, Cecil Jenks, Ethel Deets, Gustave Schlimmer, Florence Lowe, Orlou Ganson, Elsa Logsdon, Leona Homes and Alex Kramer.

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 31, 1913

A movement is on foot to organize a baseball league including teams from the towns of Odessa, Krupp, Wilson Creek and Ephrata.

Plans for the construction of the Ritzville-Ellensburg cutoff, which will give the Northern Pacific the shortest line from Spokane to Seattle, and which will cost about $4,000,000, have been approved at the general offices of the Northern Pacific, according to work received from St. Paul yesterday, says Sunday’s Spokesman-Review. Work is to commence early in the spring. The cutoff will pass through Schragg on the Connell Northern line. When completed this line will shorten the North Pacific 90 miles. It is now 400 miles from Spokane to Seattle. The 310 miles via the cutoff will be five miles shorter than the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul line when it is completed, and trains run to the Coast over the Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation company from Spokane to Marengo, thence to the Coast on the main line of the Milwaukee. The cutoff will be 115 miles long. About 35 miles of the line from Ritzville to Bassett junction was graded two years ago and rails were laid for 12 miles.

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

February 3,1938

A basketball game, scheduled for Saturday night with the Endicott team was cancelled following an outbreak of smallpox in that community, and also by injuries which beset the Odessa team. Jo Schiewe, reserve player, tore ligaments loose in his leg to place him on crutches and out of play for the time being. Al Wacker, center, has been suffering from an infected thumb. Willard Jantz has recovered from an injured hand.

Whitman, Washington, produces more wheat than any other county in the United States, according to a special report released by Director William L. Austin of the Bureau of the Census of the Department of Commerce. This report shows the 50 leading counties, in 1934, in total acreage of wheat with their production and the rank of these counties in acres of winter wheat and of spring wheat.

Lincoln County, Washington, was foremost in spring wheat with Adams, Washington, in second place and Cass, North Dakota, in third.

50 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

January 31,1963

Mr. and Mrs. Fred S. Weishaar have left on a People to People tour that will take them through the Ivory Coast into South Africa, Kenya and Egypt.

The Weishaars plan to continue on to the Holy Lands, Turkey, Italy and then into Germany for visit with relatives, returning home by way of London.

The bowling tournament currently in swing at the Odessa Bowl saw 139 take part in its first week.

Lead in men’s singles went to Jess Graber 685, Herb Sackmann 658, Don Weishaar 656, Paul Hopp 649, John Oestrich 646 and Jack Williams 634.

In men’s doubles the leaders were Edwin Jasman and Harvey Schell 1218, Ben Greenwalt and Don Fode 1217, Jerry Wacker and Rod Nichols 1205, Gale Salo and Ed Salo 1192, John Oestrich and Phillip Watson 1187.

Men’s all events led by Don Fode 1891, Don Weishaar 1819, Phillip Watson 1817, Jack Williams 1802, Clarence Schmidt 1770 and Chester Timm 1767.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

February 4, 1988

Fifteen-year banking veteran Donna Bren has been named manager of Seafirst Bank’s Odessa branch, following the early retirement of former manager Doriene Jacobs.

Eight instrumental musicians from Odessa High School will compete Saturday, February 6, in the Eastern Washington Music Educators Solo and Ensemble Festival to be held at Ferris High School, Spokane.

Tanyaa Haines will perform on the clarinet, Katie Herdrick on the baritone horn, and Josh Walter and David Sayrs will solo on the trumpet.

Jeremy Schlimmer and Jason Scrupps will perform a saxophone duet, and Tawnya Goetz and Janice Jantz will team up on the flute category, said instructor Gordon Neale.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

February 6, 2003

Quicker 911 emergency response will soon be available for wireless phone users in Washington, the state Enhanced 911 program has announced.

All of Washington’s 39 counties have now requested wireless Phase I service from wireless phone carriers doing business in Washington.

One hundred or more Odessa area citizens turned out last Sunday afternoon for the dedication of the newly expanded physical therapy department at Odessa Memorial Hospital.

The newest expansion takes in an open area underneath the north wing of the hospital building. Visitors viewed a spacious solarium, where patients will be able to improve their walking ability. The area will also serve as a recreation room. The lower level expansion also includes an exercise room and treatment and consultation rooms, which allows the department to care for both male and female patients simultaneously.